As race heads for Windsor, Spokes continues to help locals find two wheels

May 6, 2013

David Roberts, owner of Spokes, inc. bike shop in Windsor, adjusts the headset of a bike Thursday at the shop on Main Street. Spokes is currently the only full-service bike shop in Windsor. / Sam Noblett/For the Beacon

Spokes, inc.

At Spokes, inc. bike shop in Windsor, finding the right bike for each person comes first, whether it’s a road bike, mountain bike, BMX, cruiser or even a leaned-back chopper with metallic paint.

The business serves as Windsor’s only full-service bike shop as the town looks toward this summer where it will play host to a leg of one of the country’s most prestigious bike races.

The shop was started in 2005 by David Roberts at a location behind the Egg & I off of Main Street, but later moved to its current location near King Soopers.

“I love putting people on the right bike,” said Roberts. “We’re here to sell people fun.”

Roberts operates the business along with two others, Dave Frank and his wife Sheri. Frank works in the shop with Roberts, and Sheri does the finances.

And that small staff and their attitude adds to the atmosphere, according to its customers.

“You don’t get that feeling like you’re among a bunch of cycling elitists like some other shops,” said Michael Pomering, a longtime customer. “It’s got that small-town atmosphere.”

The wide selection of parts that Roberts keeps on hand is one of the shop’s greatest strengths, said Pomering.

Not only does the shop carry a variety of parts, but Roberts prides himself on the selection of bikes that he keeps on hand, which include adult trikes and BMX bikes as well as the gamut of traditional styles.

The shop primarily carries the Giant, Felt, Electra and Haro brands, but it has looked at expanding into lines from both Nirve and Fuji, said Roberts.

As of now, the largest bike market in Windsor has been what Roberts considers to be the comfort bikes for getting around town, but as the cycling culture in Windsor comes into the spotlight with the race, he hopes to see an increase in the number of people interested in road bikes.

And beyond that, he hopes to see a day when bike races in Windsor are a common occurrence, suggesting something such as a criterium race — a short-track road race where riders complete laps of less than a mile — due to its exciting nature for spectators.

But ultimately for Roberts and Spokes, the most important part of the job comes down to relationships and helping others.

“It’s about building relationships rather than just selling,” he said. “What makes me happy is to see other people happy.”